Sacramento County will pay $6 million to the parents of twin toddlers who drowned last year in a Roseville foster-home pool, their attorney said earlier today. The boys were found unresponsive in the backyard pool on October 9, 2023, and were later pronounced dead.
The Sacramento Bee reports the payment, announced by the parents' lawyer, Wyatt Vespermann, resolves claims against the county while other cases continue. The settlement follows litigation alleging Sacramento County and others failed to enforce a safety plan and secure the pool at the foster home.
Lawsuit Names County, Pool Contractors And Caregiver
The civil complaint, filed in U.S. District Court in early October, names Sacramento County alongside private contractors and individuals. The federal docket lists Epic Pools & Landscapes and Alex Fiscalini doing business as Life Saver Pool Fence, as well as the foster caregiver, Schitara Victoria Page. The complaint and related filings are available on Justia Dockets & Filings.
Criminal Case Against Caregiver Remains Active
In a separate criminal matter, Placer County authorities arrested Page on felony counts tied to child cruelty, with special allegations that the children suffered willful harm resulting in death. She pleaded not guilty and was released under conditions that include GPS monitoring. Police reports indicate she said she called 911 and performed CPR at the scene. CBS Sacramento has reported on the charges and her arraignment.
Alleged Pool Safety Failures Central To Both Cases
Public documents and the parents' complaint say Sacramento County's child-welfare agency approved the home with a safety plan but did not ensure the pool barrier met required standards. The complaint alleges the fence had a gap larger than the two-inch limit and an unsecured gate, and that the home's approval came with conditions such as door alarms and water-safety training that investigators say were not enforced. For more on the documents and the agency's role, see reporting from KCRA.
Where The Cases Go From Here
The civil case against the county and other defendants remains active in federal court, and the parents' attorney says he will continue to press claims against the pool contractors and the caregiver. Criminal charges against Page are proceeding in Placer County and are separate from the civil settlement; prosecutors and civil plaintiffs may pursue different evidence and remedies as the cases move forward. The federal docket can be tracked via Justia Dockets & Filings.
Family members called the settlement a step toward accountability, even as they want answers about how the boys ended up in the pool. With civil and criminal cases both active, the matter is likely to remain under scrutiny for months to come.
